Abstract: A method and system for efficiently utilizing frequency spectrum resources is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one spectrum opportunity (510), wherein the opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, determining a set of altered transmission characteristics (515, 517) to allow transmission of a desired signal in the identified frequency range, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in the frequency range, and transmitting said desired signal using the altered transmission characteristics when the transmission occurs during said time duration. In one aspect of the system, the step of determining at least one opportunity comprises the steps of receiving signals in known frequency ranges, and determining the characteristics of the received signals.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, apparatus and computer program for providing warning to a station (STA) associated with an Access Point (AP) in a WLAN that a disassociation the AP is imminent. The steps include (a) selecting a station (STA) for disassociation from a particular Access Point (AP) of a WLAN; (b) by updating a newly created reason code field of a message to indicate to the selected STA that it has become a candidate for disassociation; and (c) transmitting the message to the selected STA. Upon receipt by the STA of a message indicating that the selected STA has become a candidate for disassociation, the selected station scans other Access Points from a list to find another Access Point to associate with before being cut off by the current Access Point.

Abstract: A new type of measurement (150) recently adopted in the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard is used by the a system and method that allows devices (301) to detect if microwave ovens (302) are operating in their vicinity. By scanning the medium, the devices (301) derive information about whether a commercial and/or residential microwave oven causes interference on the medium (310). The information is derived from the collected pattern of medium occupancy times that is characteristic of microwave ovens by using medium sensing histograms (150) defined by the standard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for measuring medium activity patterns in wireless networks and deriving information about the radio environment from the measured medium activity/patterns. This invention is three-fold. First, it defines what to measure, including medium idle/busy patterns based on power detection, medium idle/busy pattern based on preamble detection, and medium idle/busy pattern based on virtual sensing. Second, it provides a mechanism for communicating the measurement request and report, as illustration for the case of IEE 802.11. And last, it defines the information that can be derived given these measurements as discovery of: non-802 devices, 802.11e systems, 802.11e contention-based medium access priorities, 802.11e controlled medium access usage, 802.11b/g existence, and hidden stations.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and device for identifying opportunities to transmit in a radio network. The method and device listen for a first, second, and third period of time to detect first, second, and third busy slots. A processor recognizes a sequence of the first, second, and third busy slots as a function of time, performs a Randomized Hough Transform on the sequence, generates a histogram based on the Randomized Hough Transform, identifies peaks in the histogram, determines whether the peaks correspond to a known radar, and identifies an opportunity to transmit.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, computer program product, and apparatus that use a lower 32 bit field of a 64-bit 802.11 TSF timer, so as to encode the reference time instant without the ambiguity as to whether there the reference time is referring to a future time or a past time. According to an aspect of the present invention, the fact that the low order 32 bits of the TSF timer wraps over in about 71 minutes is exploited to remove any ambiguity in the reference times contained in the Schedule Element frame. One method employs an algorithm base on distance between two reference points to determine whether the timer has wrapped around a time period, and another method uses a delay interval or a timeout to determine whether or not the TSF timer is wrapped or unwrapped. Another method includes determining whether an absolute value of X?O is less than, or greater than or equal to maximum value M/2.

Abstract: Method of accessing a medium on a transmission system having at least two channels, in which a multi-channel device groups at least two channels for the purpose of increasing the bandwidth. The method enables multi-channel devices and single-channel devices to coexist by sending out a preamble and header on each individual channel before the channels are grouped, a single-channel device that may be scanning the channel thus detecting that the message that follows is not intended for itself.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently utilizing frequency spectrum resources is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining at least one spectrum opportunity (510), wherein the opportunity is identified by a frequency range and a time duration, determining a set of altered transmission characteristics (515, 517) to allow transmission of a desired signal in the identified frequency range, wherein the altered transmission characteristics avoid interference with signals expected in the frequency range, and transmitting said desired signal using the altered transmission characteristics when the transmission occurs during said time duration. In one aspect of the system, the step of determining at least one opportunity comprises the steps of receiving signals in known frequency ranges, and determining the characteristics of the received signals.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, computer program product, and apparatus that use a lower 32 bit field of a 64-bit 802.11 TSF timer, so as to encode the reference time instant without the ambiguity as to whether there the reference time is referring to a future time or a past time. According to an aspect of the present invention, the fact that the low order 32 bits of the TSF timer wraps over in about 71 minutes is exploited to remove any ambiguity in the reference times contained in the Schedule Element frame. One method employs an algorithm base on distance between two reference points to determine whether the timer has wrapped around a time period, and another method uses a delay interval or a timeout to determine whether or not the TSF timer is wrapped or unwrapped. Another method includes determining whether an absolute value of X?O is less than, or greater than or equal to maximum value M/2.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for dynamically selecting a communication channel between an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs) in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The method includes the steps of: determining whether a new channel to be used by the plurality of STAs is needed; measuring the channel quality of a plurality of frequency channels by at least one of the plurality of STAs; reporting the quality of the plurality of frequency channels in terms of a received signal strength indication (RSSI), Clear Channel Assessment (CCA) busy periods and periodicity; and, selecting one of the candidate channels based on the channel quality report for use in communication between the AP and the plurality of STAs.

Abstract: A Medium Sensing Time Histogram Table structure is provided for inclusion in a Management Information Base (MIB) for storing and accessing Medium Sensing Time Histogram measurement results, such as Medium Sensing Time Histogram Measurement Reports. A predetermined number of entries may be provided in the Medium Sensing Time Histogram Report Table for this purpose. An apparatus and method is provided for a wireless device to enter and access entries in the Medium Sensing Time Histogram Report Table. The method and apparatus is intended for use in the IEEE 802.11k standard as well as any WLAN requiring measurement of the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for measuring medium activity patterns in wireless networks and deriving information about the radio environment from the measured medium activity/patterns. This invention is three-fold. First, it defines what to measure, including medium idle/busy patterns based on power detection, medium idle/busy pattern based on preamble detection, and medium idle/busy pattern based on virtual sensing. Second, it provides a mechanism for communicating the measurement request and report, as illustration for the case of IEEE 802.11. And last, it defines the information that can be derived given these measurements as discovery of: non-802 devices, 802.11e systems, 802.11e contention-based medium access priorities, 802.11e controlled medium access usage, 802.11b/g existence, and hidden stations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specification of the start time for taking measurements in wireless local area networks (WLAN), in which the start time of measurements to be taken is included in a Measurement Start Time field of a Measurement Request Frame and the interpretation of the start time for a specific measured element is determined by a Mode field included in each Measurement Request Element field of the Measurement Request Frame. Optionally, the start time of a Measurement Request Frame is specified using a time synchronization function (TSF) timer value or part thereof in order to avoid ambiguities in interpretation of the start time reported.

Abstract: A plurality of methods, apparatus and computer program for providing warning to a station (STA) associated with an Access Point (AP) in a WLAN that a disassociation the AP is imminent. The steps include (a) selecting a station (STA) for disassociation from a particular Access Point (AP) of a WLAN; (b) by updating a newly created reason code field of a message to indicate to the selected STA that it has become a candidate for disassociation; and (c) transmitting the message to the selected STA. Upon receipt by the STA of a message indicating that the selected STA has become a candidate for disassociation, the selected station scans other Access Points from a list to find another Access Point to associate with before being cut off by the current Access Point.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating radio resource usage in an unlicensed frequency band (24) is provided. Specifically, under the present invention, a set of spectrum etiquette rules is provided that govern how radio systems (20A-C) operate within unlicensed frequency bands (24). In a typical embodiment, the set of spectrum etiquette rules can accommodate radio systems (20A-C) operating at varying channel bandwidths. To this extent, the set of spectrum etiquette rules generally includes: a channel switching rule; a bandwidth selection rule; a power selection rule; a deferring listen before talk (LBT) rule; a channelized LBT rule; and a synchronized LBT rule.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interface-control protocol method for a radio system, which has at least one frequency band provided for the two-way alternate utilization of a first and a second radio interface standard. The radio system comprises a number of stations, which each function in accordance with a first radio interface standard and/or in accordance with a second radio interface standard, in which a control station is provided that controls the two-way alternate utilization of the frequency band.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a reliable communication over radio networks co-existing in the same frequency band. According to the present invention, a transceiver operating according to another transmission scheme may transmit a frame in the IEEE 802.11 format. This frame may comprise an error. Upon receipt of this frame by an IEEE 802.11 station, this station may defer from channel access for a period of time.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for dynamically selecting a communication channel between an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs) in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The method includes the steps of: determining whether a new channel between the AP and STAs within a particular basic service set (BSS) is needed; requesting a channel signal quality measure to some of the plurality of stations by the AP; reporting a channel signal quality report back to the AP based on a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a packet error rate (PER) of all channels detected by the stations within the BSS; selecting a new channel based on the channel quality report for use in communication between the AP and the plurality of stations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for dynamically selecting a communication channel between an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STAs) in an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN). The method includes the steps of: determining whether a new channel between the AP and STAs within a particular basic service set (BSS) is needed; requesting a channel signal quality measure to some of the plurality of stations by the AP; reporting a channel signal quality report back to the AP based on a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and a packet error rate (PER) of all channels detected by the stations within the BSS; selecting a new channel based on the channel quality report for use in communication between the AP and the plurality of stations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network with several subnetworks, which are organized either decentrally or centrally and can be connected in each case each by bridge terminals, a proxy terminal for a bridge terminal being set up in at least one of the subnetworks, which proxy terminal during an absence (dictated by frequency, time, code, or other factors) of the bridge terminal accepts all data directed to the bridge terminal or to be forwarded thereby, temporarily stores the data, and forwards said data to the bridge terminal when this is present again.